A Comparison of Father and Son in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning"

     Colonel Sartoris Snopes, Sarty, in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning," was different from his father. This difference in character in Sarty Snopes and Abner Snopes is apparent in the beginning of the story: Sbner Snopes had burned a barn, and Sarty did not wish to lie for his father. "He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair." Abner committed a premeditated crime of burning his neighbor's barn, but Sarty hesitated to tell one lie that could save his own father. This clearly shows Sarty is different- better- in moral character from his father.
     When Sarty and Abner left the store, an older boy called Abner "Barn burner!" Sarty fought for his father even though he was half the size of the other boy. The boy knocked Sarty down twice, and Sarty was bleeding, but Abner did nothing. Sarty fought for his guilty father's name, but Abner did not protect or fight for his innocent son. After Sarty fought for Abner, he felt "his father's hand [jerk] him back, the harsh, cold voice [speak] above him." Sarty fought for his father, but his father spoke harshly to him. Abner, with his cold, harsh words, destroyed Sarty's confidence, and with his lifestlye almost destroyed Sarty's life. Sarty builds; Abner destroys.
     Abner ruined his landlord's rug and had to clean it. In doing so, he permanently ruined it. The landlore informed Abner that he was to pay twently bushels of his crop for the rug. Even though Sarty knew his father had been wrong, he tried to comfort him: "You done the best you could!" he cried. "If he wanted hit done differently why didn't he wait and tell you how?" Sarty wished to believe the best of his father, and he was even prepared to help him: "We'll get hit and hide hit! I kin watch...." Sarty was prepare to go great lengths to help his father, even after his father had not gone to any lengths to help Sarty (as in the earlier fight). Sarty builds; Abner destroys. Later, Abner talks to Sarty, "the voice almost pleasant, almost gentle." This suggests that this was as pleasant and gentle Abner was with Sarty, not even pleasant or gentle- only almost.Yet, despite how Abner talked to Sarty, Sarty tried to comfort and justify his father when his father ruined the rug. Sarty builds; Abner destroys. Abner, in choosing the lifestyle her did, destroyed- or prevented the building of- his family. He forced them to move time after time. He burned his neighbor's barns, and he and his family had to move again and again. Abner could have chosen to make honest work, care for his family, feed his family so that they would not be hungry, but he did not. Sarty encouraged his father, fought for his father, even though he knew Abner was guilty. Sarty changed his life, gave up his home, his sisters and brother and mother and aunt, so that he could change and not become like his father. Sarty builds; Abner destroys.
     Sarty Snopes turned in his father and in advertly caused his father and brother to die because he wanted to change his life. Sarty gave up all his worldly belongings besides the clothes he wore. That was the price of change. Abner died an arsonist, and thief, a cold, hardened man. Abner could have changed, but he did not have the will to. Sarty did. Sarty built his life; Abner destroyed his own.